{"id":2706,"date":"2022-08-29T10:13:23","date_gmt":"2022-08-29T00:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=2706"},"modified":"2026-09-24T22:01:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T12:31:30","slug":"how-kl-city-fc-went-from-unloved-to-regional-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/how-kl-city-fc-went-from-unloved-to-regional-champions\/","title":{"rendered":"Second Chance City: How KL City FC rose again"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cVamos Romel, vamos!\u201d<\/em> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Exclaimed Mr. Ra\u00fal S\u00e1nchez, of the Colombian Embassy in Malaysia, from the stands of the Kuala Lumpur FA Cheras Stadium, rallying for his compatriot Romel Morales, KL City FC\u2019s canny midfielder, during the AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal Final match against PSM Makassar on a sweltering Wednesday evening last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. S\u00e1nchez, along with other foreign diplomatic corps in attendance, were part of a star-studded crowd, cheering for the club as they made history that evening by emerging as the first ever Malaysian victors in the ASEAN Zonal Final, showcasing the divergent fortunes (and misfortunes) the club had experienced in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar as to how Malaysia\u2019s visionary leaders transformed the old backwater of Kuala Lumpur into a dream metropolis renowned the world over, the same could be said for KL City FC; from the management, coaches, players and faithfuls alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The club\u2019s incredible rise was first witnessed in November 2021 when they brought home the coveted Malaysia Cup, defying all odds to beat Malaysian football goliaths Johor Darul Ta\u2019zim in the final and securing their berth in the AFC Cup competition this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But despite ending the year on a high note, many continued to rank them as outsiders, never a contender in the league. Making huge strides in the AFC Cup would have been a utopian dream, if not entering a Gehenna from which they may never recover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Mr. Ra\u00fal S\u00e1nchez (R) with Romel Morales celebrate KL City FC’s success in the bowels of the KL Stadium (PHOTO: Marco Negeri)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yet they were triumphant and won the hearts of Malaysians during the AFC Cup group stage; avid fans, neutrals and today, foreign government representatives, all loving and rooting for the underdogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many had presumed that the other Malaysian side in the competition, Kedah, was better placed for success, given their reputation and overall experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For KL City, it was the prosaic \u201clearn from the experience\u201d excursion as far as their own supporters were concerned. But where Kedah failed, KL City succeeded in showing the Southeast Asian football fraternity which club owned the ASEAN region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like the city in which it resides, KL City FC is an amalgamation of people who wanted to showcase their talents – people looking for a fresh start, and people who \u201cnever stood a chance\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That itself symbolizes the club, a collection of players and coaches that came from many other teams in Malaysia, seeking another shot to rebuild their careers, hoping for a lucky break and possibly silverware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the saying goes, life is not determined by the cards you are dealt with but rather how you play them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f star performance from the City Boys and the fans last night! \ud83d\udd25#KLCityFC<\/a> #KLPride<\/a> #SampaiMatiKualaLumpur<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/NKmWtDVVVj<\/a><\/p>— Kuala Lumpur City Football Club (@KLCityFootball) August 25, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>